FROM THE ARCHIVES:Gen Eoin O'Duffy was replaced as Garda Commissioner by the Fianna Fáil government in 1933 and subsequently became (briefly) leader of Fine Gael. He was arrested while trying to address a meeting in Westport in December 1933 on the grounds he was a member of the Blueshirts, by then a banned organisation. He successfully sued the two Garda superintendents who had arrested him for wrongful imprisonment and assault: the following is the account of what happened in Westport given to the court by one of the superintendents.– JOE JOYCE
SUPERINTENDENT Gerald Flynn, having given details of the number of Civic Guards and military present at Westport on the occasion referred to, said that he told General O’Duffy when he arrived at the double police cordon drawn across the road that he would not allow his party to parade or march into Westport.
O’Duffy asked him for his authority, and he said that he would not allow them to pass while wearing blue shirts and other insignia of a banned organisation. Later the witness saw O’Duffy and three others proceeding across a field and he followed. O’Duffy was later joined by some of his followers. The party then travelled along the railway line towards the town of Westport.
When the party, now numbering between 150 and 200, most of whom were wearing blue shirts, was quite close to the town O’Duffy gave the command to those in front to halt and addressed the crowd, saying: “I had intended to address you in Westport,” when the witness interrupted him and said: “I will not allow you to address the meeting.” O’Duffy said: “Ah, Superintendent. I must speak to my people,” and witness said he would not allow him to continue. O’Duffy was continuing to address the meeting when the witness placed him under arrest.
Describing the arrest, the witness said that he placed his hand on O’Duffy’s shoulder and said: “You can consider yourself under arrest.” O’Duffy said: “I hope my arrest in the county which gave birth to Davitt will mean that the followers of our policy will be increased by thousands.” The witness said, “Come to the station with me now,” and O’Duffy replied, “I won’t go to the station until I am carried there.” The witness told him that he had no intention of carrying him there.
At this time O’Duffy’s followers were getting very angry, and from the shouts he heard he saw that the rescue of O’Duffy was being contemplated. The witness asked Sergeant Finnerty to take his left arm while he held his right. They entered the town via the railway station, still holding O’Duffy, who, with witness and Sergeant Finnerty, headed the procession. As they approached the meeting place those assembled for the meeting came towards them.
O’Duffy was then taken from them forcibly. O’Duffy was carried to the platform, where he later saw him struggling with Superintendent Murray and Civic Guard Gill. The witness got on to the platform, and with the assistance of Superintendent Murray O’Duffy was taken to the station.
In cross-examination by Mr FitzGerald witness . . . denied that the reason he arrested O’Duffy was that he spoke to the people while wearing a blue shirt; he arrested him because he suspected him of membership of an unlawful association.
“I knew perfectly well that I had no authority to arrest a man because he was wearing a blue shirt,” added the witness. “I never had any doubt about the matter. I knew it was no offence for a man to wear any shirt he wished.”
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